Prostate cancer risk from eating chips once a week

EATING just one portion of fat-packed chips a week can raise men’s prostate cancer risk by a third, scientists say.

All deep-fried foods can dramatically increase the danger of developing the disease

All deep-fried foods, including battered fish, fried chicken and doughnuts, can dramatically increase the danger of developing the disease.

And tumours caused by deep-fried treats tend to be more aggressive and life-threatening, the research showed.

Previous studies have suggested poor diet can affect a man’s chances of getting prostate cancer. But the new US findings are the first to show take-away-type foods may play a major role.

Regular consumption of deep-fried foods confers a particular risk

Dr Janet Stanford

The results, published in the journal The Prostate, reveal snacking on deep-fried foods at least once a week increases the risk of the cancer between 30 and 37 per cent compared to men who ate them less than once a month. A study last year found a diet rich in oily fish can slash the risk of dying of prostate cancer by up to 40 per cent.

Other studies have shown that cooking food at a very high heat, like grilling meat, raises the tumour risk.

Given the level of deep-fried take­aways eaten in the UK, the latest findings suggest a big threat to health. The precise reason is unclear. One theory is that heating oil to a temperature needed for deep frying can make carcinogenic compounds form in food.

Nearly 40,000 cases of prostate cancer a year are diagnosed in the UK

Deep-frying chicken breast for 20 minutes produces nine times more of the carcinogens than boiling.

Dr Janet Stanford, who led the research at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle, said: “Regular consumption of deep-fried foods confers a particular risk.”

Nearly 40,000 cases of prostate cancer a year are diagnosed in the UK.